Cuddy was about to drift off to sleep when her phone began to ring.
"Hello?"
"Don't hang up...My patient is back to keeping his thoughts to himself."
"I'm surprised Chase agreed to such a risky procedure."
"I can be quite convincing, Cuddy."
"Manipulative is what آپ mean, House." Cuddy کہا as she leaned into her pillow.
"So, آپ really didn't like what the patient had to say about your 'pistons'?"
Cuddy chuckled.
"Okay. I'll admit that I was a bit flattered."
"I knew it." House کہا triumphantly.
"But آپ know آپ don't have to go to such a great length to tell me I'm pretty."
A heavy silence settled over the phone line.
"You're مزید than pretty." He finally said.
Cuddy smiled at his comment.
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
Cuddy sat up in her بستر and glanced at the clock.
"Are آپ still at the hospital?" She asked.
"Uhh, yeah. I was just heading home."
"...Well come here instead."
Another heavy silence settled over the line.
"I'll be there in ten." He کہا before hanging up.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...A few days later

"Hey, I know آپ want the death cat lady out of here, but if آپ watch this tape آپ might think otherwise." House کہا as he sat down on her office couch.
Cuddy rolled her eyes and went to sit اگلے to him.
"I can't believe you're even humoring this woman. She obviously is suffering from a loss and has decided to use this cat as a distraction..."
House kissed Cuddy before she could finish her sentence.
"Did آپ just kiss me to shut me up?" She asked with a hand on her hip.
"Yes. I also just wanted to kiss you." He کہا as he pulled out his lollipop. Cuddy shook her head and leaned into the cushions.
"Do آپ want one?" House asked her as he pulled out an extra lollipop from his pocket.
Cuddy couldn't help but to grin from his little gesture.
"For me? Thinking of me?" She teased as she took the candy from him.
"I just know a sugar charged Cuddy is a happy Cuddy, and a happy Cuddy is willing to watch a death cat newscast with me." He کہا as he propped his feet on the coffee table.
"Whatever آپ say." She کہا with a knowing smirk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Okay Kutner I'll be there in twenty. Don't tell cat lady about the coma patient's death." House کہا as he hung up the phone.
He turned on his side to face Cuddy.
"I know you're not a heavy sleeper." He کہا as he pulled a stray hair from her face.
Cuddy opened her eyes.
"You're going back to the hospital." She کہا with a yawn.
"Yeah. Coma patient died and the damn cat was there. I got to figure out what is going on here."
Cuddy moved closer to him and placed a hand on his chest.
"Just make sure آپ do get some sleep in the on-call room. آپ didn't sleep much last night either. You'll crash." She کہا softly.
"I know...I'll try to be back in a few hours, otherwise I'll see آپ in the morning." He کہا as he leaned down to kiss her mouth.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Knock. Knock.
House got up and walked to his front door.
"Who's there?" He asked in his standard grumpy tone.
"It's me." Cuddy کہا slightly annoyed.
House undid the lock and opened the door.
"You don't sound too happy, Cuddles."
Cuddy walked into the apartment in a huff.
"I'm not very happy, House." She stated as she crossed her arms in front of her chest.
House closed the door and walked to stand in front of her.
"It was just a bad scrape. Don't get so dramatic."
"I'm dramatic because آپ won't tell me why آپ were even in New York یا what exactly happened to cause an accident...It could have been worse." She finished in a whisper.
House moved into her space and placed a hand on her chin.
"Haven't آپ heard? I've accumulated nine lives for every patient I save." He کہا with a smile.
Cuddy couldn't help but to smile back at his joke. House brought his hand down to her waist and pulled her into him. Cudddy lay her head against his chest.
"I'm sorry I scared آپ again."
Cuddy nodded into his chest.
"Why were آپ in New York anyway?" She asked.
"I was checking out a vintage guitar...like I told you."
Cuddy moved her head to look up at him. Her eyes searched his for what felt like an eternity. He wanted to look away but knew that it would tip her off.
"...You'll tell me when you're ready." She finally کہا as she kissed him softly on the cheek.